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Phillip
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Reged: 31/05/10
Posts: 174
Loc: North Carolina
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bonanza]
      #185761 - 14/07/11 01:54 AM

Any of these are ready...when do we leave?


--------------------
My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.
-Winston Churchill


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Tatume
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Reged: 09/06/07
Posts: 1091
Loc: Gloucester, Va USA
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: Phillip]
      #185764 - 14/07/11 02:30 AM

Bonanza, What knife are you taking? Take care, Tom

--------------------
Take care, Tom
NRA Life Member


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hunter_angler
.300 member


Reged: 24/03/10
Posts: 104
Loc: Grand Marais, Michigan (home i...
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: Tatume]
      #185826 - 15/07/11 12:15 AM

I am an old school rimmed cartridge junkie (but on a budget).

I like to keep things simple (2 guns with ammo for packing efficiency).

I like to keep things relatively light (for a lot of hiking/carrying).

I like to keep things versatile (per Mr. Bonanza's point, rifles that can back each other up well).

So....

1. a field grade double (Merkel is a good option) in .470 NE intended for big/dangerous stuff.
2. a Ruger No. 1 single shot in .450/400 (top choice), .375 flanged, or 9.3x74R at minimum, for plains game.

In a pinch, with PH backup, either gun could be used for multiple purposes. I would use only open sights, which puts a limitation on range to begin with, so flat shooting is not a big priority. However, fit a scope to either gun and you should be in pretty good shape out to 200 yards.

Anyway, that's my 2 gun battery. Probably not a lot different than a DR/Farkie combo that would have been used 100 years ago...

--------------------
old school rimmy


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bonanza
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Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: hunter_angler]
      #185828 - 15/07/11 12:26 AM

I'm actually only take two: the .376 dakota and .35 WCF H&H double cuze it's a plains game hunt. I have a Pelican case fitted for two rifles. The scopes are going in luggage.

--------------------


"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.

"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus

"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."

"Yo! Mr. White"


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bonanza
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Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: Tatume]
      #185829 - 15/07/11 12:27 AM

Not sure. Do I need a knife? PHC says to just take a Swiss Army Knife. I have a leatherman tool that will work.

--------------------


"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.

"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus

"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."

"Yo! Mr. White"


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hunter_angler
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Reged: 24/03/10
Posts: 104
Loc: Grand Marais, Michigan (home i...
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bonanza]
      #185845 - 15/07/11 04:33 AM

Quote:

I'm actually only take two: the .376 dakota and .35 WCF H&H double cuze it's a plains game hunt. I have a Pelican case fitted for two rifles. The scopes are going in luggage.




I think it's cool you're using the .35 WCF! I have often thought about my lever in .348 WIN for a plains game hunt. It works fine on Elk/Moose in North America, so I gotta think it could handle similar-sized African game.

And, although not ideal, if I got into trouble and big cats showed up, I would at least have a reasonable round plus fast repeatability on my side!

--------------------
old school rimmy


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tophet1
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Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: hunter_angler]
      #185864 - 15/07/11 08:26 AM

My choices keep changing as I keep learning and experience more.

.22lr and 12 gauge shotguns are a given.

In the past it was a 7x57 and 9.3x62
Today its a .243W and .333 OKH
Tomorrow (after a lotto win) .300H&H and .500/465H&H.

So many combinations work.


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JabaliHunter
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Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: allenday]
      #185898 - 16/07/11 02:54 AM

Quote:

My ideal, BASIC African battery consists of just two rifles.
Both are custom Model 70 Winchesters built on Model 70 actions by D'Arcy Echols & Company. One of them is a 416 Rem. Mag., and the other is a 338 Win. Mag. Both rifles are absolutely reliable, durable, perfectly balanced, fast-handling, superbly accurate, and they do not change zero, ever.





Very nice...


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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 662
Loc: Texas
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: JabaliHunter]
      #185907 - 16/07/11 05:59 AM

Perfect !!!! May I suggest a 12 gauge or a .22 rifle (if you have room). You would be surprised at how much you will shoot a scoped .22 on Safari (and unlike the other shells , 100 rounds of .22's weigh almost nothing). !!! I always take one, and if I am not shooting it, seems like someone in camp will find a use for it. Just a suggestion.
Have fun,
Robert


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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #185911 - 16/07/11 07:25 AM

If we do speak Africa along my ideal battery is what I have already..:

12bore Shot & ball gun
.333Jeffery or 8x57Mauser or .300H&H
Heavy double in 10bore.

One day if I were to exchange my vintage 10bore double for another doublerifle I would take a .577 nitro express.

To narrow things more down..
my .333Jeffery and .577Nitro(future) and 12bore shotgun(any kind really) would be my ideal battery.

On my trip here this august I`ll take my Rigby 12bore S&B and a .333Jeffery.

If I loaded the .333Jeffery with solids, I believe I could take any animal in Africa, except where the animals needed to be stopped in a charge..here a the heavy double would fill the bill.

Edited by rigbymauser (16/07/11 07:26 AM)


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Rule303
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Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 4896
Loc: Woodford Qld
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: rigbymauser]
      #185912 - 16/07/11 08:39 AM

Not having hunted Africa my idea would be

2 gun battery, 270win or 303-those MK5 Jungle carbines are nice and light and a 416Rigby.

3 gun battery 22rimfire or Hornet, 270, 416 Rigby.

If only plains game then

22hornet and 35Whelen- with some Woodleigh 225 grain Hydros for anything nasty that turned up- if I couldn't get my 35Sambar in due to headstamps not matching calibre markings on barrel.


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poprivit
.333 member


Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 396
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: Rule303]
      #186026 - 18/07/11 08:20 AM

I've been four times; elephant, multiple Cape Buffalo, stink bull giraffe, plains game, sititunga, wart hog, baboon.

I carry and use:
1. Ruger #1 in .458 Lott.
2. Weatherby .257 W. Mag.

So far no complaints from any animal.

BTW: I used a S&W 500 Mag on the stink bull. Second vertebrae, giraffe on the ground.


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Schauckis
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Reged: 17/07/07
Posts: 151
Loc: Finland
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: poprivit]
      #186118 - 20/07/11 01:22 AM

The basis for me, too would be a two-gun battery.

Light/medium 7x57
Heavy 9,3x62

If we're looking for big game only, then 9,3x62, 9,3x64, .404 Jeff or .416 - make mine a tad modern, i.e. Rem Mag.
Out of these I'd lean towards the 9,3x64 or .404 Jeff.

For a plains game trip only, I think a 7x57 would suffice. Perhaps even something as small and light as a 6,5x55 but I doubt if I'd really go that small.

If I were after bigger plains game only, I doubt if I would put my trust into something as small as a 7mm. Then we'd be talking calibers between .30-06 and the 9,3x62.
This is the area where I have been toying most with ideas myself. Perhaps the most ideally suited would be the .338-06 or a similar like the 8,5x63 Reb. That said, I have shot Eland @ 176yds w/ a .30-06 very satisfyingly, indeed, thank you very much.
Given my recoil shyness any caliber above .30 should be quite slow giving a milder recoil than the .30-06 does (thus the "basic" choice of 7x57).
A 8x57 would be fine, indeed: load with 200grs AccuBonds and you have a sure killer. Somehow I don't see the 8mm very much as African, though. Thus the more Bellian 7mm!
Or to go super-classic: .318 WR. That would have to be paired with a .425 WR as the heavy, no?

Much as I love the lever guns I think I'd have to settle for a bolt gun, anyway.
Take-down, please.

Scope-wise someting with low magnification and a wide field of view - the new Swarovski Z6 EE (Extended Eye relief) models would fit the bill; although I could make do with a more classic model Zeiss or Schmidt & Bender equally well.
QD mounts and decent open sights.
I'm not comfortable with the V notch and bead so I wish to have a traditional rear sight with the U notch and post front sight. A modern see-through (Recknagel) would be fine, too.
Alas, my latest experience in Namibia has convinced me against red dot sights for PG. Should be OK for DG especially in thick stuff.
I'm prepared to revise this opinion if I get to use a red dot sight whose dot is smaller than 3.5MOA. Zeiss?

If a favorite lever gun could be specified - and of course one can! - I'd take a Winchester model 1895 in 7,62x53R!
So far I have not come up with a lever that could be used against DG. Perhaps a Marlin .45-70 but let's leave the lever for the PG for the time being.

Speaking doubles the heavy is easy: .450/.400 Jeffery.
The medium requires more thought. I might end up with the 7x65R. 7x57R would be equally satisfying.
If one wants to be exotic then one chooses the 9,3x65R Brenneke.

- Lars/Finland

--------------------
A.k.a. Bwana One-Shot

Edited by Schauckis (20/07/11 01:40 AM)


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hunter_angler
.300 member


Reged: 24/03/10
Posts: 104
Loc: Grand Marais, Michigan (home i...
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: Schauckis]
      #186139 - 20/07/11 08:54 AM

Leverguns for dangerous game?

If you want something traditional, the .50 Alaskan in a Marlin 1895 has been used successfully on elephant. Myself I would lean toward a Winchester 1886 or 71 in .50-110 for a bit more case capacity. 500 grain solids at 1900 plus FPS could do some damage. I would give it a go with PH backup.

The best option might be a more modern Browning BLR in .416 Taylor, a proven DG round. In fact, a two barrel takedown BLR with one pipe in .416 and the other in .338 or .300 WIN Mag. could probably do it all for you on safari. A one levergun African battery!

--------------------
old school rimmy


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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: hunter_angler]
      #186196 - 21/07/11 12:09 AM

For myself it would really depend on where I was going...

Example-when I was in Zim the last time it was a dangerous game area only---based on my experience, I will NEVER bring anything less than a .375 --it will cover anything as far as plains game and still enough if/when you get into a tuskless or whatever...

If only hunting plains game or plains game/dangerous..and in South AFrica or Namibia..ahve taken 300 Ultra-mag and .416...has worked great...loaded the 300 with 200 gr A-Frames and the 416 with 400 gr A-Frames and 400 gr Solids..

Ripp

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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HogPilot
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Reged: 26/05/09
Posts: 180
Loc: Texas
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bonanza]
      #190377 - 21/09/11 03:13 PM

These are the batteries I've taken to Africa.

2006: 340 Wby MK V and 416 Rigby CZ
2007: 340 Wby MK V and 416 Rigby CZ
2008: 375 H&H M-70 and 500NE Merkel Double
2009: 300 H&H Ruger #1 and 500NE Merkel Double
2010: 375 H&H M-70 and 500NE Merkel Double
2011: 300 H&H Ruger #1, 375 H&H M-70, and 500NE Merkel Double

Only took the 3rd rifle in 2011 as my younger son was along and could look after and carry the extra rifle. The 3rd rifle being the 300 H&H was used for Leopard. I used the 375 H&H for Leopard in 08 as well but my opinion is that the 375 is not the best choice for 150 lb cats!

I feel that these 5 rifles provide everything that I need to choose from but I did just purchase a 9.3X74R double. I'm sure I'll fit it in somewhere!

Cheers,

Todd

Edited by HogPilot (21/09/11 03:19 PM)


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kamilaroi
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Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: HogPilot]
      #190391 - 21/09/11 07:27 PM

Orright then,

As the 404 Jeff was developed with both a 400gn at 2150 for Afrik and 300gn at 2600 for those on shikar (in Injah) I'd go with that. Current loads exceed both.

For African plains game then a 30-06 with 180gn and up.


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ovny
.375 member


Reged: 19/06/08
Posts: 591
Loc: Spain
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bonanza]
      #194182 - 20/11/11 09:24 AM

In my humble opinión, for general Plain Game a 300 Weatherby Magnum (or 338 WM), for bigger animals a 375 H&H Magnum and for dangerous game a 458 Lott or superior.

Ovny.

--------------------
I am Spanish


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Kano
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Reged: 09/07/03
Posts: 166
Loc: East Africa
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bonanza]
      #194686 - 24/11/11 04:09 AM

Ideal African gun battery?

The idea being to enjoy a safari to the full, with the most versatile firearms and the minimum of luggage?

A .375 H&H and a 12Ga shotgun.

That's all you need to travel light and have the most fun possible.

The 12Ga will bring you hours of sport with francolins, guinea fowl, rabbits, etc., and the .375 is all you need for anything you want and can shoot at that is beyond the shotgun capabilities.

Whatever else you bring won't add an ounce of usefulness to the safari, beyond satisfying a rifleman's itches.

OK, a .404 and a .22 would do the same... But that's the general idea.

--------------------
Philip


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Azone
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Reged: 17/07/11
Posts: 30
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bonanza]
      #194855 - 25/11/11 05:36 PM

(1) 450-400 3" NE double rifle (Verney Carron, Heym, Merkel) - mostly from the perspective of ease of shooting. Got to admit that the .470 NE holds some fascination.

(2) .375 H&H (Ruger Safari Magnum or similar)


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SafariHunt
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Reged: 02/01/03
Posts: 468
Loc: Pretoria RSA
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: Azone]
      #194863 - 25/11/11 09:46 PM

My ideal battery to hunt the whole Africa not in trip of course would be.

1 - 500 NE double for elephants and dangerous game follow up.
2 - 375 H&H for most other dangerous game and plainsgame

3 - 8x68S for those longer shots at plainsgame will also do well on leopard.

4 - 6x45 for the small duikers and others

5 - 12g side by side for the birds.

Its not the shortest list but with it I would be able to take on the world nevermind just Africa.

--------------------
"Sleeping under the African sky I can see nothing wrong with this world!"


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FATBOY404
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Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: SafariHunt]
      #194866 - 25/11/11 10:06 PM

Quote:

My ideal battery to hunt the whole Africa not in trip of course would be.

1 - 500 NE double for elephants and dangerous game follow up.
2 - 375 H&H for most other dangerous game and plainsgame

3 - 8x68S for those longer shots at plainsgame will also do well on leopard.

4 - 6x45 for the small duikers and others

5 - 12g side by side for the birds.

Its not the shortest list but with it I would be able to take on the world nevermind just Africa.




Just happen to own
a 404j
8x68s
6x45

You have good taste.

Took my 338-06 the first time and the 404 the second time.

--------------------
"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"


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bonanza
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Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: FATBOY404]
      #194871 - 25/11/11 10:59 PM

For a dedicated plains game hunt where there are nil dangerous game, ideal takes one a whole new meaning.

Ideal is:

a) easy to travel with
b) you favorite rifle
c) accurate
d) light
e) useful

On my recent safari I took two rifles that fit in one pelican case: .375 bolt rifle with two scopes and a .35 WFC double rifle.

However, if DG where on the list then it would be:

a) DG class double
b) CRF .375 bold rifle with scope

--------------------


"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.

"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus

"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."

"Yo! Mr. White"


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ovny
.375 member


Reged: 19/06/08
Posts: 591
Loc: Spain
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: bonanza]
      #194876 - 26/11/11 12:15 AM

I have forgotten a 12 Ga shotgun

--------------------
I am Spanish


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rscott
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Reged: 21/03/08
Posts: 328
Loc: wyo., USA
Re: The Ideal African Hunting Battery [Re: ovny]
      #195075 - 28/11/11 08:52 AM

i like to keep it simple;
light 416 Rem.
medium 416 Rem.
heavy 416 Rem.


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